Speaker declares to press he's "new sheriff in town"

In newspaper headlines across the state, legislative leaders declared their continued assault on Alabama schools and the people who work in them.

In an exclusive interview with the Associated Press, House Speaker Mike Hubbard (R-Auburn) and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) outlined their agenda for the upcoming session, and how they will fight the members of AEA.

To educators who have seen budgets slashed and pay cut, it was saddening to see an elected official speak so negatively about educators.

“AEA is made of members who care about children and improving teaching and learning in every school,” said Dr. Paul Hubbert. “What happens in the statehouse affects every member and child, and working on education issues should never be about personalities or politics.”

The GOP loyal to Hubbard and Marsh won a super majority in the House and Senate in the election of November 2010, ending a period when friends of education held sway in the Statehouse. In the last session, the Hubbard-Marsh coalition engaged in tough battles with AEA over changes in the tenure law, the budget and laws governing the Education Trust Fund, and a pay cut that started in October. AEA was able to defend much and defeat the worst, but it was by all accounts a difficult legislative session for education.

The two leaders say they will push changes in retirement benefits for new public employees and hope to legalize charter schools in the next session. They said other issues that died during the days of AEA dominance, such as school vouchers and merit pay for teachers, may also be considered.

While not outlined in the article, AEA believes another push to put political cronies in charge of the Teachers’ Retirement System may also take place.

“Only AEA and its members are left to fight the wholesale dismantling of our public schools and the hard-won things that educators rely on,” said Hubbert. “It will be important for folks back home to talk to their legislators about the issues. We need to support elected officials who care about their local schools.”